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Town to host Tour of Britain Women final stage

Alex McIntyreWest Midlands
PA Media A number of cyclists wearing different coloured outfits, ride past during a race held on the streets of a city.PA Media
The final stage of the Tour of Britain Women 2026 will take place in Leamington Spa

Hundreds of people are expected to turn out to cheer on the cyclists as they cross the finish line at the Tour of Britain Women 2026.

The final stage of the event, which features 114 riders representing 19 teams and 24 nations, will take place in and around Leamington Spa in Warwickshire on Sunday.

The race began in Cockermouth, Cumbria, on Wednesday and subsequent stages have been hosted in Lancashire and Wales.

Leamington is no stranger to hosting the tour, having been the finishing point for the final stage of both the 2017 and 2018 editions.

When does it start and what is the route?

PA Media A number of cyclists, dressed in different coloured outfits, ride along a single-carriageway road in the middle of the countryside.PA Media
The race features 114 cyclists representing 19 teams and 24 nations

The race is due to start at 11:00 BST on Sunday and cyclists will tackle a route measuring about 77 miles (123.8km).

They will begin at Newbold Terrace before heading north past Kenilworth Castle, looping south via Wellesbourne and Shipston-on-Stour.

The peloton will then tackle a number of climbs, including at Sun Rising Hill and Burton Dassett Hills Country Park.

The race will then take the competitors to Southam before they return to Leamington, finishing where they started near Jephson Gardens.

How to get there and where to park

Warwickshire County Council said the town was expected to be busy and has urged people to use public transport, cycle, walk or scooter where possible.

The train station has regular services from cities including London, Birmingham and Coventry, and is about a ten-minute walk to the event's main area in the Pump Room Gardens.

Anyone who does drive should use off-street car parks, the council said, rather than residential streets.

Nearby car parks include St Peter's, Covent Garden and Bedford Street.

Which roads will be closed?

A close-up of a small white street sign which says Newbold Street. To its left is a large yellow road sign which says Tour of Britain, with information about the road being closed. Cars can be seen parked along the street and a large white building is on the other side of the road.
Newbold Street will be closed for the duration of the event

The council has confirmed the following road closures in Leamington on Sunday:

  • Newbold Terrace, 04:00 to 18:30
  • Euston Place, 04:00 to 18:30
  • Hamilton Terrace, 07:00 to 17:00
  • Newbold Street between Rosefield Street and Newbold Terrace, 04:00 to 18:30
  • Holly Walk between Hamilton Terrace and Brandon Parade, 07:00 to 17:00
  • Parade between Dormer Place and Spencer Street, 09:00 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 15:30

There will also be parking restrictions on a number of other roads, which can be found on the council's website.

Will there be things to do?

As well as lining the streets to support the cyclists, the authority said there would be plenty of activities to keep people entertained.

The Pump Room Gardens will be the epicentre of the event, hosting sports and activities for families, as well as food, drink, community stalls and bike-themed showcases.

Visitors will be able to try a cycle track, climbing wall and pedal powered games, while enjoying BMX stunt displays as well as arts and crafts.

A large screen will show the race as it travels through Warwickshire, alongside the winner's podium.

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